Evidence of Vatican Complicity in Sex-abuse Case Highlights Global Pattern Documented by the News

By Reese Dunklin
Dallas Morning
August 25, 2014

http://watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/2014/08/evidence-of-vatican-complicity-in-sex-abuse-case-highlights-global-pattern-documented-by-the-news.html/

The Vatican moved its top diplomat out of the Dominican Republic because of sex-abuse complaints, failed to tell criminal authorities and then harbored him in Rome as his list of accusers grew.

The case, reported Sunday by The New York Times, underscores findings from our landmark 2004-2005 investigation into the Catholic Church’s global transfers of predator priests.

In “Runaway Priests: Hiding in Plaint Sight,” we found several accused clergy who fled to Rome with their superiors’ help. At least two were fugitives from criminal charges.

Another priest we featured was also a diplomat, an American who had been the Vatican’s No. 2 official in India. A top aide to Pope John Paul II was warned in the 1990s that the priest had abused an Ohio girl. But the priest remained on duty until around the time of our inquiries in 2003.

Pope Francis has vowed greater accountability in addressing the Catholic Church’s sex-abuse crisis since taking over. Earlier this year, he begged victims for forgiveness.

Yet Pope Francis was alerted to the Dominican Republic diplomat’s misconduct before the secret transfer last August, authorities told The Times. The allegations should have been reported to police, according to Vatican rules.

The only way the diplomat could face charges in the Dominican Republic now is if the Vatican, an independent city-state, agrees to return him.

On the continuation of this post, I’ve republished some of our stories showing Rome’s involvement in international transfers of abusers.

rdunklin@dallasnews.com